Curiosity has been piqued - KTM 390 Adventure

Dirt_Dad

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No, not to replace the Tenere. But as a DR650 replacement, I'm finding it really attractive. Quick shift, slipper clutch, on and off road ABS, TFT, traction control, bluetooth, crash bars, 12v outlet, adjustable windscreen, and adjustable suspension. It's an amazing amount of features for a bike priced at $6200.

The videos show it tackling the kind of terrain I'm most likely to encounter (except sand), and doing it with much more composure than my couch like suspension on the DR. I'm definitely interested.




KTM 390 Adventure Review

Another review

Long review

ADVrider review


Reviews show there is room for a better foot peg setup, but you have to think the aftermarket will take care of that pretty quickly.

The GM from Romney, my Tenere dealer since day one, has moved on to a KTM dealer just a few minutes from my house. So I'm confident I'll get a chance to check it out when all the virus crap is over.

Who knows, I may just be ready for an entry level bike. :cool:
 

Dirt_Dad

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Of course. You've always offered me the handlebars of your KTMs. Happy to do the same if I find myself with a set.
 
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ballisticexchris

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The bike is too heavy and lacks the suspension and engine performance of a lightweight dual sport. 400+ lbs fueled up is pretty heavy for a sub 375cc bike. I would recommend a 500EXC, 520RS, or 501 Husky to replace the DR650.

And I would really reconsider the rim choice. Those cast wheels will break with the first hard rock hit. 7 inch front and rear suspension travel is just not enough for any serious off road. Even the Super Tenere has more suspension travel.

You also want to consider reliability. The DR650 is sledge hammer reliable. The KTM has very delicate electronics with a proven track record of leaving riders stranded.

If your purpose is street and mellow fire roads it might not be too bad albeit underpowered and questionable reliability.
 

Dirt_Dad

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I would recommend a 500EXC, 520RS, or 501 Husky to replace the DR650.
I've owned the 520EXC once. While it was the most fun morning bike I ever owned, it was downright dangerous in the afternoon when I was tired. I've ridden TrikePilot's Husky and it was fantastic. If I could routinely ride where he lives, I'd steal his bike. It really was perfect. But I live here, and it's extraordinarily rare for me to do anything more than fire roads. I have to be honest, not aspirational about what my dirty bike is going to do.

I miss the extraordinary balance of a KTM. I'm tired of a bike that can't loft the front end on demand. If the 390 can't get it up, then I'll lose interest immediately. I already have a bike that is wheelie challenged. Don't need another one.

Since I'm confident I'll get to test ride one, I'll know in the first 5 minutes if it's a candidate for garage space.
 
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ballisticexchris

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My brother in law could ride wheelies forever on his DR650. I' pretty sure you are going to be disappointed with the small bike. Have you considered the 700 Tenere? It only costs a few thousand more, weighs about 25lbs more and is way more capable.

Alongside the limited purpose Super Tenere my Beta is a do all bike. I can configure it to do anything from cross country travel to hard core single track. I'm surprised you would want to replace the DR650 for the small bore KTM. While the DR650 is a little rough on hard core single track, it is a fantastic bike for reliability and multi use applications.
 

Dirt_Dad

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I like my DR, especially after my anemic WR250. But I miss the easy wheelie of my 520 EXC. The DR is a pig, even with the lowered front sprocket, the front end is too heavy to loft on it's own without plenty of effort, or a helpful bump. Maybe if the Dunlop 606s had something to bite into it would hoist the wheel up, but mostly it just spins. Damn thing is heavy.

I'm totally open to the 390 being the wrong way to go. But I've considered getting a CB500 or some other little bike just to relax and ride casually. The 390 is the potentially more useful CB500, with dirt ability. I doubt I'd pull the trigger if it can't get the front off the ground. I remember how well balanced my first KTM was, and I'm wondering if they kept that up.

The T7 is way too close in capability to whatever I get to replace the Tenere. Not interested in touring on it, and too expensive to be my second, bum around the back roads bike, on the rare occasion I get to do that.
 

Checkswrecks

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I miss the extraordinary balance of a KTM.
Jon -

You definitely took to the 690r and I'd make you a "name your price" deal on a garage queen 350 XCFW.
:cool:

btw - You should've seen the stare and then the eye roll when I told Karen I put a $100 deposit down on a Tesla CyberTruck. Ugly as heck but for the price NOTHING beats what it will be able to do IF they ever get to delivery. There's even a loading ramp built into the tailgate for loading bikes.

 
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Dirt_Dad

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Jon -

You definitely took to the 690r and I'd make you a "name your price" deal on a garage queen 350 XCFW.
:cool:

btw - You should've seen the stare and then the eye roll when I told Karen I put a $100 deposit down on a Tesla CyberTruck. Ugly as heck but for the price NOTHING beats what it will be able to do IF they ever get to delivery. There's even a loading ramp built into the tailgate for loading bikes.
I don't know...from what I hear the last seller of that 350 misrepresented the condition of that bike when it was sold to you. ;) I've never actually ridden your current KTM.

I'll admit one of my hesitations about a real dirt bike my immaturity. I love wheelies (no big deal) and I love to powerside...a lot. I feel kinda bad being a 50 something out there ripping people's dirt roads to shreds. I feel like a bit of a dick doing it. Some how it always catches up with me. One time by Trevor, another by Harrison, and even one time by a stranger who came up to me while pulled over and asked if I had seen those roost marks right up to the edge on the corners of Squirrel Gap...? It's a desease.

Yes, I really liked your 690. That was a blast. I should have put in my order with you that day I leaving little pieces of your tool bag behind me. That was the first bike that reminded me of my old KTM beast. I do remember being scared off by the running problem you were having. I was thinking KTM...running problems...not sure I want to go there. I know you later told me that was not the bike's fault, but it was too late by then. It was gone.

That is a bizarre looking truck. Have to wonder if it's real, or just vaporware. I'll be very interested to go for a ride if you get it.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Jon, if you want to go stealth get Bob's 350 and slap a set of trials tires on it. They are very little impact to the trails and leave very little trace off the trail.
 

Jlq1969

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Jon -

You definitely took to the 690r and I'd make you a "name your price" deal on a garage queen 350 XCFW.
:cool:

btw - You should've seen the stare and then the eye roll when I told Karen I put a $100 deposit down on a Tesla CyberTruck. Ugly as heck but for the price NOTHING beats what it will be able to do IF they ever get to delivery. There's even a loading ramp built into the tailgate for loading bikes.

If it weren't for the wheels, I'd tell you it's the “logan’s run” truck:)
B6A8A748-8FB9-4071-8DA4-BDFB25E55A6D.jpegEBED2733-3719-41D9-953A-320E7DF1C106.jpeg
 
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ballisticexchris

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It's a thought. Can't predict what will happen. I know that bike has been taking up space in CW's garage. Space that could be used for a DR650. :oops:
I will tell you that I would jump at the chance to have Bob's 350 if I did not already have my Beta. I have ridden the 350's and they handle much lighter than the big bore bikes and still tractor down in the low rpm's.

Funny you are looking to downsize. When I am all healed up I am seriously considering a Yamaha YZ125X. It's pretty sad that I never got the chance to own anything other than big bikes as an adult. I can only imagine how a 215lb bike will feel on the trail.

I went from a minibike to a Honda street 90 as a kid. I rode a bunch of my uncles DT125's as a teen. Then I jumped up to a big XT500 at 19. After that is was always large bore dirt bikes. I have come to realize I will never be able to use all the HP off road unless climbing super steep long hills or sand dunes. For everything else a modern 125 2T is more than enough. And you can scream the motors!!
 

Dirt_Dad

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The issue for me with a bike like the 350XCF or any of the EXC bikes is they really shine, very brightly, in the dirt. An environment which I love. Also an environment to which I need to truck or trailer a bike like that. Loading/unloading and driving a minimum of 1 hour each way, but more likely 3 to 4 hours each way is a tremendous commitment. I did that in an earlier stage of life when my daughter was riding (hence, 'dirt dad'), and as a family activity it worked for a few years. At this stage of life, I'm just not interested in routinely investing that much non-riding time, for the little bit of riding time it would yield.

What I can do is not spend too much money, and still enjoy bombing around on the dirt roads within a reasonable range for the capability of bike I'm riding. This is the reason for the curiosity on the 390. I do suspect it will be too little performance to make it worthwhile, but if anyone could do something with that little amount of HP, it would be KTM.

CW brought up an excellent point. I was smitten when riding his 690. It really put a smile on my face, and scratched an itch I had not been able to reach for a long time. I should probably be considering looking for a used one of those if I'm going to make a change.
 

Jagermeister

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FWIW, you may be disappointed in the lack of torque produced by the 390, especially if you venture off-road.
I’ve owned 2 DR650’s, and a 390 Duke (identical motor to the Adv), and can tell you that the 390 needs more grunt, IMO. I think the 390 engine is decent on pavement, but it wants to be revved - nothing happens below 5k rpm. Its power delivery is sort of opposite the DR650, and reminded me of WR250r performance. Nothing wrong with that, if you like to rev.
In contrast, my current KTM 690 Enduro is much more torquey, as you’d expect. Riding them back-to back, the 390 was gutless.

BTW, I’ve been poking around this forum a bit recently, considering another ST. Been away for about 3 years, toying with some orange bikes. Currently in a love/hate relationship with a 1290 Super Duke R, which may give way to a Super Tenere.
 
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ballisticexchris

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The issue for me with a bike like the 350XCF or any of the EXC bikes is they really shine, very brightly, in the dirt. An environment which I love. Also an environment to which I need to truck or trailer a bike like that.
I though Bob's KTM 350 was plated?
 

Dirt_Dad

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Pretty sure it is. But it's not the type of bike I would like to ride for hours on pavement at high speed to get to the dirt. Then need to do it again to get home at the end of the day. Plus the overall time commitment means it's not going to happen. Just being honest with myself.
 
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ballisticexchris

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With 15/45 gearing you can peel off hundreds of miles of pavement on a dual sport. It's street legal so no issue at all. Where the dual sports get tough is when you are doing 300+ miles day in and day out. For me, as long as the trails are under 150 miles each way then it's a snap.
 

Dirt_Dad

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FWIW, you may be disappointed in the lack of torque produced by the 390, especially if you venture off-road.
I’ve owned 2 DR650’s, and a 390 Duke (identical motor to the Adv), and can tell you that the 390 needs more grunt, IMO. I think the 390 engine is decent on pavement, but it wants to be revved - nothing happens below 5k rpm. Its power delivery is sort of opposite the DR650, and reminded me of WR250r performance. Nothing wrong with that, if you like to rev.
In contrast, my current KTM 690 Enduro is much more torquey, as you’d expect. Riding them back-to back, the 390 was gutless.
The constant need to wring the WR's neck to get it to do anything is what led me to get rid of it. Romney Cycles loaned me the DR and after riding through a frog strangling rain to get home I was adequately impressed enough that I called Larry (GM at Romney) and told him I wasn't bringing it back. It was so nice not to have to rev it to make it go. If the 390 is anything like the WR, I'm out.

The DR is a wonderful bike, reliable as a hammer, and I do enjoy riding it. But I'll admit on both the Tenere and the DR there are times I just nail the throttle and wish the front wheel would take a break for a while...but it so rarely does. It's at those moments that I think back to my old 520 EXC and remember the unintended 4th gear wheelies that uses to satisfy so much.

I actually contacted a seller from CycleTrader this morning to check on his under-priced 690r. It was only out there 2 days, and it's already sold. Not surprised at all.

Larry is now the GM at a KTM dealership. I may need to get him to keep an eye out for a used one for me.

BTW, I’ve been poking around this forum a bit recently, considering another ST. Been away for about 3 years, toying with some orange bikes. Currently in a love/hate relationship with a 1290 Super Duke R, which may give way to a Super Tenere.
What is the "hate" part of your relationship with the 1290?

With 15/45 gearing you can peel off hundreds of miles of pavement on a dual sport. It's street legal so no issue at all. Where the dual sports get tough is when you are doing 300+ miles day in and day out. For me, as long as the trails are under 150 miles each way then it's a snap.
Can do...or will do are two very different things. I know me, and the likelihood I'd do that more than 2 or 3 times a year on a 350 are about zero. I suspect that's why it's been sitting at CW's for so long. You get to an age (and CW is a hell of a lot older than me ;) ) that it just doesn't sound appealing.
 
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